Molded surface ornamentation



Nov. 14, 1950 N. HYMAN MOLDED SURFACE ORNMENTATIQN Filed March 22, 1949 Patented Nov. 14, 1950 MOLDED SURFACE ORNAMENTATION Nathaniel Hyman, Woodmere, N. Y.

Application March 22, 1949, Serial No. 82,827

2 Claims.

This invention relates to ornamentation and more particularly to surface ornamentation such as for walls, furniture, receptacles or the like.

In order to enhance the appearance of walls or furniture, areasof tufted leather are often applied thereto. This is generally produced by positioning the leather over the area to be treated and then forming tufts throughout the extent of the leather. The result is a network of tufts and corresponding bulges which is generally considered to be most attractive. However, the process of forming such tufts is extremely laborious, time-consuming and exacting. It requires a high degree of skill and even artistry. There are even more inherent defects in the conventional system as above described. For example, if one section of the tuft should become torn or otherwise damaged it is often necessary to replace the entire surface so as not to make the repair evident.

Bearing the foregoing in mind, this invention is directed to the production of simulated tufting which will enable a novice to create a perfect tufting job. This is accomplished by forming tuft sections which can be interfitted to produce a surface of any extent. Such tuft sections are pre-formed and are shaped in an expert fashion. The user need merely take any number of these and apply them to the surface requiring ornamentation. As is well known, conventional tufting comprises a series of creases produced by depressing and retaining an upholstery pin or the like in the material to be tufted. The present invention produces a tufted section which is preformed in that the creases and other characteristics of a tuft are permanently molded therein while a central fastening object such as a nail is used to connect the tufted section to a support. Accordingly, the nail looks like it has produced the tuft such as it actually does in conventional practice. In fact, it is difficult for even an expert to detect the difference between an area of the instant, pre-formed, molded, tufted sections connected to a support by upholstery nails and the handmade areas conventionally known.

The invention in all its details will be better understood from the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a series of tufted sections as applied to a support.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of a single tufted section.

Fig. 3 is a rear view thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the application of the molded tufting section to a support.

The tufted section [0 comprises a block of molded material. It may be formed of any conventional plastic material such as cellulose acetate or the like or any of the synthetic resins generally employed for this purpose. In the form shown, it is rectangular and is formed with diagonal creases I I in the molding process. It is further formed with a central valley l2 having lines or creases !3 which radiate from'the flat depressed center M. Valley 12 is somewhat square at its top, this effect being produced through abrupt curvature lines l5 which define the high points of the tuft. In order to further simulate a handmade tuft, block it has surface irregularities in the form of flat areas I6 which depart from the rounded effect of the raised areas. In general, the front surface of the block has a dull finish to further simulate the effect of natural leather.

Each tufted section or block I0 is substantially concavo-convex and is formed with a depending rim I l. The underside of the'tufted section as seen in Fig. 3 contains the creases H in relief converging upon boss I8 which is larger in diameter than the front depressed center l4. Through center 14 and boss 58 is formed a hole 19 by which the object may be fixed to a support.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated the connection of one tufted section or block I0 to a support S. The section is placed in position so that rim 1 l is correctly disposed according to the desires of the user. A large-headed nail 20 is then placed in opening [9 and hammered down until it firmly connects the block to the support. The head of nail 20 is hemispherical and may have a decorative hammered surface and the base thereof is of the same diameter as center M so that it seats therein.

The plastic material of which the tufted section is fabricated generally has an inherent resiliency. The section is initially formed so that boss [8 is at a different, less elevated level than is the bottom of rim ll. Accordingly, when the nail 20 is hammered in, it brings the boss is against the surface of support S and creates a tension in the rim ll. This causes th rim to press tightly against the surface of support S so as to form a well fitting, almost water-proof connection. The other sections are secured in position as illustrated in Fig. l to produce a complete area of tufted sections. The final result is to render visually indistinguishable the tufted area produced from individual blocks from one produced by expert and artistic hand-tufting of leather or the like.

The block hereinabove described is useful as ornamentation for walls or boxes or other articles but, because of its relative rigidity, may be objectionable for upholstery which is to be sat on or leaned against. Accordingly, a special advantage is realized when the block is fabricated of highly flexible, soft, resilient plastic material generally produced through an excess of plasticizer in the finished product. Such plastic material may be formed from one of the vinyl resins and is often used to make belting, suspenders and other flexible plastic articles. Although flexible, the material is nevertheless capable of sufficient pre-formation to produce a simulated tufting section formed as hereinabove described. The bulges, however, are soft so as to be comfortable when leaned against by a person. Thus, if it is desired to use the tufted section for the back of a chair of the like, it can be done without'producing such rigidity as to render the chair uncomfortable for use. The formation of the 90 degree spaced diagonal creases as was described hereinabove can be producedin either a relatively rigid or a soft plastic by the conventional molding methods as presently practiced.

The articles of the instant invention may be used in innumerable environments where surface ornamentation is desired. Thus, they may be used for bed headboards, for example, and will present further advantages in that they are not fibrous and their surfaces will not retain dirt or other foreign substances.

What is claimed is:

1. An ornamental block comprising a concavoconvex body of substantially rectangular shape, 2. depending rim integral with said body, said depressed planar fiat portion in the center of said valley, a boss formed on the underside of said block and directly below said fiat portion, said rim being spaced vertically further from said flat portion than said boss, and diagonal creases extending across the body from the corners to said central valley.

2. An ornamental block according to claim 1 and wherein said boss and said flat portion are circular, said boss having a larger diameter than said flat portion, said valley being formed with a series of creases radiating outwardly from said flat center portion, said body having bulges formed between said diagonal creases and endin at said central valley.

NATHANIEL HYMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 336,242 Low Feb. 16, 1886 2,253,489 Smith Aug. 19, 1941 2,256,645 Kuhlman Sept. 23, 1941 2,468,908 Woodman May 3, 1949 OTHER REFERENCES body being formed with a central valley and a em? Oflice- 

